The Lakers put in one of their most exciting performances of the season to defeat the Knicks 110-97. It was one of those rare occasions when the Angelenos skipped the script they have maintained throughout the season: beat the bad teams and lose to the good ones. That’s how they’ve stayed in the middle of the Western Conference standings, far from the top, where they were imagined at the start.
In the victory against the Knicks, LeBron James was absent due to a contusion on his left elbow and arthritis in his left foot. And given his team’s good performance without him, overreactions have begun. Could the Lakers be better without him? It sounds like heresy when talking about one of the best players in history, but there is data to support this discourse. For example, the only four games the Lakers have won against teams with more than 60% wins (4-12) have been without the forward.
The balance when the legend has coincided in the same game with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the closest thing to a ‘big three’ that the Lakers have, is 11-6. Only with the last two, it is 9-2. And if the point guard has been missing, 3-3. The best mix of these three elements is undoubtedly that of Doncic and Reaves. In the 329 minutes they have shared on the court this season, the net rating of the Los Angeles team is +16.9. The LeBron and Reaves net rating is -4.7 in 194 minutes. The LeBron and Doncic net rating is -3.5 in 498 minutes. And the three together, +1.5 in 293.
An unusual activity
Against the Knicks, James was not missed. The team had unusual activity and the defense, with the involvement of all the players (yes, including Doncic), improved to the point of causing 19 turnovers. The New York team shot 42.7% from the field and 20 points below its scoring average.
Playing with Reaves is very easy because he attracts a lot of attention and also helps others. He makes my life easier
“We need to be a better defensive team and I think we’re showing that we can do that,” said Doncic, who had words of praise for Reaves. “It’s fantastic to be his teammate. Playing with him is very easy because he attracts a lot of attention and also helps others. He makes my life easier”.
With LeBron, however, Doncic’s coexistence is more complicated. The forward absorbs a lot of the ball and sometimes slows down the game. At 41 years of age, he still has amazing performances (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists per night), but he is starting to show his defensive weaknesses.
LeBron’s continuity with the Lakers is unlikely
The myth exercised his player option for this season for $52.6 million, but his contract expires in June. His continuity with the Lakers is unlikely. Relations with the franchise are strained. And on the court he runs into that difficult fit in the team, which is no longer his, but Doncic’s. Returning to Cleveland for one last dance at home is an option. Retirement is also on the table.
There is still a long way to go in the season, but the Lakers seem to have turned things around after three tough consecutive defeats. Since then, with a favorable schedule, they have won five of their last six games. It remains to be seen how they will fare against the likes of the Timberwolves, Bulls, Nuggets and twice against the Rockets.
“I’m not in a position to overstate that. My job is not to overstate that. We’re 15-9 over the last 24 games. We’re a top 10 offense and we’re one of the top 15 defenses. That’s what we wanted when we started the season with this group, and that’s where we are right now,” coach JJ Redick said after playing a great game against the Knicks… without LeBron.
Read the full article here
